Member Sought for Community Preservation Committee

SOMERVILLE – Do you have a passion for parks, affordable housing, and historic preservation? The City of Somerville wants your help and is now accepting applications for one public position on the Community Preservation Committee, which oversees the selection of projects to be recommended for funding by an estimated $2 million in annual Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenues. Residents are encouraged to apply and applications must be submitted by October 21, 2016.

Somerville voters overwhelmingly approved adoption of the CPA in November 2012. Since then, $9.8 million has been allocated for 31 projects across the four areas that CPA can fund: open space and outdoor recreation, affordable housing, and historic preservation. The Community Preservation Committee, required by the CPA, is tasked with evaluating Somerville’s needs in those three specific areas and making recommendations to the Board of Alderman on how CPA funding should be spent.

The committee consists of nine volunteers, including four members from the general public and a member from each of the following bodies: the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, the Historical Preservation Commission, the Parks and Open Space Department, and the Housing Authority. The City is currently looking to fill the one general public position, to replace an outgoing member. The successful candidate will complete the outgoing member’s term, which will end on December 31, 2017, and will have the option to continue on for a second three-year term. To ensure the most qualified applicants are selected, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has formed a review committee of City experts and community members to review applications, conduct interviews, and consider public feedback on candidates. From the group of applicants, they will nominate candidates for appointment for the Mayor to review. The Mayor will then submit candidate finalists to the Board of Aldermen for approval.

“We are fortunate as a community to have so many passionate residents willing to share their expertise and time to continually make our city better. Over the last three years, the Community Preservation Committee has leveraged these strengths to guide CPA funds towards the best possible uses,” Mayor Curtatone said. “The new member of the Community Preservation Committee will contribute to the valuable work of ensuring that CPA funds are allocated to uses that best serve the needs and priorities of our community.”

The CPC meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. When the CPC is considering applications for funding, it is possible that additional meetings will be held.

Being an effective committee member will require that you:

• Familiarize yourself with Somerville’s affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space/outdoor recreation policies and needs
• Familiarize yourself with the law (Community Preservation Act, MGL Chapter 44B) that governs the committee
• Attend meetings regularly
• Foster good relations with other city departments, boards, and commissions
• Listen to and be responsive to community feedback
• Use fairness and objectivity when making decisions

The review committee is seeking candidates who:

• Are supportive of all three programmatic areas of the CPA: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and outdoor recreation AND
• Have demonstrated a commitment to at least one of these areas.

In addition, the goal of the review committee is to create a balanced committee that includes members who:

• Come from diverse demographic backgrounds
• Represent all geographic areas of the City
• Have financial expertise
• Have project management experience

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested residents should complete the application available on the City’s website at: http://www.somervillema.gov/node/1013291 or outside the SomerStat Office at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Completed applications should be sent to employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov by October 21, 2016. All residents are welcome to apply. No nomination is required to submit an application. This is a volunteer position.

Please note that if you choose to apply for the Community Preservation Committee, your name and a portion of your application (a brief summary describing why you are a qualified candidate) will be posted on the city website for public review between October 31st and November 11th. All community members are invited to provide feedback on candidates during this time. 

To find out more about serving as a CPC member, please visit the following websites:
http://www.somervillema.gov/cpa
http://www.communitypreservation.org/

The City of Somerville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

If you need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access this program, please contact the ADA Coordinator no later than seven (7) business days before the scheduled event at the address noted below:

Betsy M. Allen
167 Holland Street, Room 207
ballen@somervillema.gov
(617) 625-6600, Ext. 2323 (Voice)
(617) 808-4851 (TTY)